Lalith Weeratunga at Police SIU

Former president's secretary Lalith Weeratunga is being questioned by the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) over an alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs. 169 million at the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), the Police said.

SC Judge refuses to hear Gota’s petition

Supreme Court Judge Buwaneka Aluwihare who was one of the three judges appointed to hear the Fundamental Rights application filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, withdrew from the case today citing personal reasons.

SC rejects FR against CB Bond sale

The Supreme Court today refused to grant leave with the Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the controversial sale of Central Bank Bonds.

Pakistan Army Chief due today

Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, NI (M), is to arrive in Sri Lanka this evening on the invitation of Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, the Army said.

SL frees 37 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today ordered the release of 37 Indian fishermen lodged in various prisons of the island nation after a meeting with a delegation of five Indian fishermen.

Democracy at SLC stayed till next year

Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake will run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with the present interim committee till next year, but SLC stakeholders have not shown their pleasure at the decision, two media releases issued yesterday by the Ministry and Stakeholders after a discussion between the parties show.

Gotabaya’s FR petition to be taken up today

The fundamental rights application filed by former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting that an interim injunction be issued against any move to arrest him by the FCID, will be taken up for hearing before the Supreme Court today.

TNA members to commemorate May 13-19 as Tamil Genocide Week

A few Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) yesterday announced that the period May 13 to 19 would be marked as Tamil Genocide Week and began commemorating the dead with a function in Mullavaikkal in Mullaitivu District where the final battle was fought in 2009, a party member said.

Local bodies whose terms lapse will be placed under special commissioners -- MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said today that the 334 local bodies whose terms would lapse on Friday would be placed under special commissioners.

Sannasgala appointed as Ratmalana UNP organiser

Upul Shantha Sannasgala has been appointed as the UNP organiser for Ratmalana electorate.

SL grateful to Pakistan for help in fighting terrorism

President Maithripala Sirisena paid a glowing tribute to Pakistan yesterday and said that not only the government of Sri Lanka but the entire country was grateful to Pakistan for the enormous assistance it had given this country to defeat the terrorists.

Video: Maithri-Ranil in a catch 22 situation - SF

Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka said that both, President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe are facing a ‘catch 22’ situation, as they both have to look after the interest of corrupt politicians who are high ranking officials of their respective parties.

Video: Build flats for Muslims in Wilpattu: BBS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today urged the government to build flats for the Muslims who live in the vicinity of Wilpattu so that our jungles would be spared from deforestation.

Video: FCID still to summon Mahendran - Bandula

Some UPFA MPs today charged that the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) was politically motivated and that was why Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran had still not been summoned to the FCID over the controversial sale of CB Bonds.

Deputy Minister passes away

Deputy Minister of Law and Order and Christian Affairs Neranjan Wickremesinghe passed away a short while ago, following a brief illness.

Slight damage to SL Embassy building in Nepal

The building which houses the Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal is reported to have suffered minor damages in the latest earthquake in Nepal, the External Affairs Ministry (FAM) said.

UPDATE: Nepal earthquake, magnitude 7.4, strikes near Everest

A major earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, two weeks after a devastating quake killed more than 8,000 people.

Nauzer Fowzie granted bail

Minister A.H.M. Fowzie’s son Nauzer Fowzie, who is also a UPFA Western provincial councillor was today released on a cash bail of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of one million rupees each by Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Nauzer Fowzie arrested

UPFA Western Provincial Councillor Nauzer Fowzie, the son of Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, was arrested by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) for allegedly threatening a businessman with a firearm in 2012 a short while ago.

FCID questions Dela Bandara

Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara is currently being questioned by the Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) over an alleged financial fraud at the Dalada Maligawa

Saliya further remanded

The Chief Operating Officer of the Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA), Saliya Wickramasuriya was further remanded till May 19 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 127 million allocated in the Tsunami housing scheme in Kilinochchi.

More than 8 KG heroin seized

More than eight kilos of heroin had been seized at the Thuduwawa coast in the Marawila Police area on Sunday (10), Police said.

I never quoted Lee Kwan Yew: Gota

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa referring to a photograph of his that went viral on social media with a quote from Lee Kwan Yew said he was unaware of such an incident and that anybody can do such mischievous things on social media.

Special traffic plan in Colombo

A special traffic plan would be implemented from today to ease the vehicle traffic situation from Polduwa Junction to Kinsey Road in Colombo, the Police said.

Ravi contradicts CBK's claims

Refuting the claims by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday said the Treasury has “enough money” to cover its obligations and fund the “right” infrastructure projects.

Private sector to maintain Galle Face Green?

Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga today instructed officials to come up with a strategic plan in collaboration with the private sector to manage and maintain the Galle Face Green (GFG) without any cost to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

Submit amendments on 20A by Wednesday: President

President Maithripala Sirisena today informed all party leaders to submit any amendments and proposals to the electoral reforms in writing to the Presidential Secretariat before Wednesday (13) noon.

JHU wants reforms before polls

JHU General Secretary and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka today objected to the upcoming general election being conducted under the current Proportional Representation (PR) System.

Ravi challenges MR for public debate

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake today challenged former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who was also the former finance minister to a public debate on a statement made by Mr. Rajapaksa that the Lankaputhra Bank had lent funds to various people named in a list submitted by Mr. Karunanayake.

​Gota files FR anticipating arrest

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court seeking an interim order to prevent his arrest.